Down but certainly not out
Like Jeremy, I’ve been doing some counting! The greatest benefit of my role with Golf Monthly is playing an immodest number of wildly different courses. By keeping a detailed record, I know that in the five years before Covid, I averaged 88 courses a year with 55 of them new to me. Last year, this dropped to 55 and 22. If this sounds like a whinge, I promise it is not – I count myself extremely lucky.
I had the joy of returning to a few big names such as Walton Heath, where friends are members and where I am beaten up by the excellent but demanding courses on a fairly regular basis. I also returned to some real gems such as Goswick Links and
Blackwell. Of the new, Dumbarnie Links was the obvious standout, but I always enjoy playing any new course. Most, perhaps with less obvious architectural merit, still have plenty of personality. With the exception of its greenkeepers, Chesham & Ley Hill is run entirely by its friendly members and golf has been played on the heath that is now tree-lined for 120 years. Charming clubs such as this exist throughout the UK&I, and if travel remains tricky, I will never run out of new visits.
Did you know?
Walton Heath, host to numerous prestigious events over its rich history, including the 2011 Senior Open, will host the 2023 AIG Women’s Open.